Album Review

Westlife has taken the world by storm much in the same manner as did their predecessors Boyzone and Take That. Under the tutelage of Ronan Keating (from Boyzone) and his manager, Louis Walsh, five handsome and, most importantly, talented young men were assembled and groomed to create this debut. The album itself is well-sung, but all too similar in its final output. Mostly comprised of ballads whose theme is the obvious sort (i.e., love gained, lost, and pleaded for), the hooks are infectious and several tracks are destined for recurrent radio status in the not-too-distant future. This pared-down collection of songs from their multi-platinum worldwide smash release is much more palatable than its original incarnation, which ran a lengthy 17 tracks. The gems and solid compositions are what their American label has presented. Every song is well-produced and well-placed in the set; as mentioned, each track is perfectly executed. This assemblage is a worthy complement to the listening pleasures of anyone enjoying the likes of today's most popular boybands (e.g., Backstreet Boys, Five, N'Sync). The album overall can be characterized as sometimes bland but unforgettable, with the standouts "Flying Without Wings," "I Don't Wanna Fight," and "Swear It Again." [The German edition cuts "My Private Movie" and changes the track order, but also adds "Moments," "Change the World," "Seasons in the Sun," "Try Again," and "What I Want Is What I've Got"]

Customer Reviews

Wow

by
Burwee

Definitely getting your money's worth here. World of our own hits me like no other song with goosebumps and tingles. Thanks for the memories. I've gone from 18-31 with the boys. They did a great job!!

Westlife

by
Scotsgirl77

An amazing album by an amazing band.

Fantastic Fans Collection

by
MellyMel0432

This is a brilliant album with all the best of Westlife and then some. Lots of Greatest Hits can disappoint with one or two tracks not appearing but this is definitely not one of them! The Deluxe version is fantastic value for money and a truly fitting way for Westlife to say goodbye to their fans - thank you!!

Biography

Formed: Dublin, Ireland

Genre: Pop

Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s

Formed in Dublin in 1998, Westlife followed in the tradition of European boy bands like Take That and Boyzone. The group performed ballads and club-worthy pop songs for a devoted European audience, becoming one of the continent's most successful bands in the process. Although they never managed to find American success, Westlife released six platinum-selling records in the U.K. and eventually sold more than 40 million albums worldwide,...